Status Updates From Imperial Twilight: The Opiu...

Booooring

The George Staunton who spoke before the House of Commons on 7 april 1839 might seem difficult to reconcile with the scholar who had tried a lifetime to build a more respectful opinion of Chinese civilisation in Britain, but DEFENDING the war had always been a part of him as well, in the belief that the East India Company had kept the corrupt local authorities of Canton "in check".
(Now a role for a naval squadron)

Regular trade resumed after Napier's blustering attempt at gunboat diplomacy, without gunboats within range & without the diplomacy to follow established protocol through Canton merchants with Quing officials.
Jardine & Matheson did not give up so easily.

In essence, the 2nd coastal exploration of 1832 identified a wedge the Company could drive right through the firmament of China. A natural alliance of British trade interests & the multitude of Chinese merchants with their desire for free commerce, both of them set against the jealous government of the Manchus.